Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-10-19
CHAPTER XVI

CHATTER ANl
Some days after this scene Raymond went
to the White House. He would not have
gone had it not been for the horrible fear
which possessed him. He wanted to know
the truth Laroque had been for some weeks
in Paris, on what errand we shall soon know.
Suzanne was alone except for her domestics,
and she soon remarked his pallor and drawn
features.
What has happenedl Have you any
trouble?" asked she when the first greetings
were over
No, am perplexed, and need an indication
which hoped you might be able to furnish
men
What is itp
Have you, for instance, an old photograph
of your father, taken before this triall OF
course, scarcely expect that | can succeed,
but if l could, it would assist me very much
in my search"
II have one. My uncle chose from our
album, when my father took me away to
America, picture of both my father and
mother, and had locket in which hid my
fathers picture behind that of my mother
| If you will wait a moment will bring it,
One look only did Raymond give it, and
be knew that the photograph which his mother
had burned was that of Roger Laroque And
why had she written those three dates that
were so fatal to Rogeri 1t was a mystery he
shrank from penetrating.
| Suzanne could use all her pretty girlish
arts, but Raymond could only respond by a
| forced smile now. 1t was as if he was in tor
ment, and much as he loved her, he only
wanted to fly, to hide in some inky pit, so
| foul and awful that nothing could ever come
there to unearth his shame, and he tried with
white lips that could hardly frame words to
| excuse himself that he might be alone.
| After the silent, uncomfortable dinner,
where each one of the three was absorbed in
| dismal reflections, Raymond followed his
mother to her room while Pierre went out,
| and when there he said:
II don't know why, but the sad story of
that poor young man Of the photograph
haunts me-. To almost realize his hopes and
then see them snatched away, l think he did
well to die
why do you say this in SUCH tone, Ray
mondF'
What did you say his name wasr said
| Raymond, without answering his mothers
| question
| "Ah-Jeanl Jean De Noirville. He was a
distant relation Of your fathers, and he mar
| ried young girl named Claire Verbun, but
| they are both dead"
| Raymond remained silent, mentally com
| pairing this story with the one told him weeks
ago He almost laughed at the absurdity of
| 1T, and she thought he believed it.
I'm putting my fathers papers in order l
| found his last speech, and in several places
| found the name OF Roger Laroque 1t seems
| that can remember dimly of seeing such
man, or of hearing you mention him Did
| you ever know himP'
YES" said she, family. "He-he was
great friend of your fathers and saved his
life in the war, but l think you never saw
him, as you were away at school during the
| time when he visited our house.
| "And fancied that photograph to be his,
| particularly on account of those three dates
which were so fatal to him."
1T was a simple coincidence"
Are you sure, mother, that that is not
| portrait OF Laroque"
"Do you suppose would liea Why should
| II For what reasonl | wrote those dates
Suppose they were the three fatal epochs il
| Rogers life, for what reason would have
| placed them therei Answer me that"
What have said has not common sense,
| admit, said he Don't notice them as Other
than preoccupations of mind disturbed and
| perplexed with presentiments of coming evil.
| Raymond, you should not give way tt
those fears. You inflict great pain upon me
| and am not very well You ought to spars
me oil strong emotions, my son. See what 6
| state am in